Fence Cost Calculator
Calculate fence cost — get posts, panels, pickets, gates & concrete with waste & cost. Enter length, height, material, spacing & gates — instant posts, panels & price.
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Fence Cost — posts 10 ft o.c.
How it works
- Effective length = total length − gates × gate width
- Posts = ceil(effective ÷ spacing) + 1 + 2×gates
- Panels ≈ ceil(effective ÷ 8) (for panel systems)
- Linear rails = effective × rails per bay
- Area = total length × height. Concrete ≈ 0.5 × 50 lb bag/post
Example
100 ft wood fence, 6 ft high, 8 ft spacing, 1×4 ft gate, 2 rails, 10% waste:
| OUTPUT | VALUE |
|---|---|
| Effective | 96 ft |
| Posts | 13 → 15 w/ waste |
| Panels (8 ft) | 12 → 14 w/ waste |
| Rails | 192 lin ft → 212 w/ waste |
| Area | 600 ft² |
Assumptions
- Flat terrain. Slopes add posts.
- Gates are pre-hung; hardware extra.
- 8 ft panel width is US typical — adjust waste if using 6 ft.
- Price per foot/panel/post as entered — we multiply by waste-adjusted count.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a fence cost per linear foot in 2026?
Installed: chain link $10–$25, pressure-treated wood $15–$30, vinyl $25–$40, composite $30–$50, wrought iron $30–$70 per linear foot at 6 ft height. Material-only is roughly $5–$12 for chain link, $8–$15 for wood, $12–$22 for vinyl. A 150 ft wood privacy fence is often $4,500–$6,800 installed. The calculator shows material-only with waste — get 2–3 local bids for labor, which is ~60% of installed cost.
How many fence posts do I need and how far apart?
Posts = ceil(effective length ÷ spacing) + 1 + 2 × gates. Spacing is center-to-center: 8 ft is standard for wood and chain link, 6 ft for vinyl. Effective length subtracts gate widths. Example: 100 ft with 8-ft spacing and one 4-ft gate → ceil(96 ÷ 8) + 1 + 2 = 15 posts. Add waste after.
What affects fence cost the most?
Material choice (3–8× range), fence height (4 ft ×0.75, 8 ft ×1.30 vs 6 ft baseline), post depth and concrete (36-inch holes, ~1.5 ft³ or ~3 bags of 60-lb per post), gate count ($200–$600 walk-through, $300–$1,200 double), and terrain (slope adds $3–$10/ft, clearing $2–$6/ft). Region matters — coastal labor is 30% higher.
How much does a fence gate add to the cost?
Walk-through gates $200–$600 each, double-drive $300–$1,200, automatic $1,900–$6,000+. Each gate also needs two extra posts and hardware. The calculator adds 2 posts per gate and includes gate width in effective length so you can compare a single 4-ft gate vs two gates directly.
Wood vs vinyl vs chain link — which should I choose?
Chain link: cheapest, 15–20 yr, minimal privacy. Wood (PT pine $8–$15 materials, cedar $15–$25): 15–25 yr with staining every 2–3 years. Vinyl ($12–$22 materials): 25–40 yr, zero maintenance, limited colors and brittle in extreme cold. For a deck perimeter, vinyl or composite often pairs best with composite decking for lifetime cost.
How much concrete do I need per post?
About 1.5 ft³ per 36-inch hole (4×4 post) — roughly three 60-lb bags (0.45 ft³ each) or two 80-lb bags. Deeper or wider holes on slopes or tall fences (8 ft needs 36-inch depth, 3 bags) use more. The calculator estimates posts × 0.5 bags of 50-lb as a planning figure — confirm with your post-hole depth and bag yield (80-lb = 0.60 ft³, 60-lb = 0.45 ft³).
How much waste should I add for a fence?
10% is typical for simple runs on flat ground. Use 15% for sloped, staggered board, or board-on-board designs where cuts increase. Chain link waste is lower (5%). The calculator’s waste multiplies posts, panels and linear rails together — material-only cost then reflects waste-adjusted quantities.
About Calculator Street
Built by Vipul Otari for US homeowners & contractors. Calculator inputs are processed in your browser. Estimates depend on your measurements, product specifications and the assumptions shown on this page. Confirm order quantities with your supplier and structural requirements with your project designer. Page updated: 2026-08-29.